Machine for rounding and backing books



May 22, 1934.

A. CAHEN MACHINE FOR ROUNDING AND BACKING BOOKS Filed Feb. 19 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet l Gimme):

MACHINE FOR ROUNDING AND BACKING BOOKS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19. 1931 Elfforhey May 22, 1934. A. CAHEN MACHINE FOR ROUNDING AND BACKING BOOKS Filed Feb. 19, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 22, 1934. A. CAHEN MACHINE FOR ROUNDING AND BACKING BOOKS 7 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Feb. 19. 1931 Wuanfor 6%? M 33 w (Mommas May 22, 1934.

A. CAHEN ,959,656 MACHINE FOR-ROUNDING AND BACKING BOOKS lg iled Feb. 19. 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 g r:

May 22, 1934. A. CAHEN 1,959,656

MACHINE FOR ROUNDING AND BACKING BOOKS Filed Feb- 19. 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 QM? WW May 22, 1934. A. CAHEN MACHINE FOR ROUNDING AND BACKING BOOKS Filed Feb. 19. 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR ROUN DING AND BACKING BOOKS 20 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of combined machine structure for rounding and backing books and then casing-in the same.

As is well known to those who are skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, the rounding of a book is the convexing oi the back edge and the concaving of the opposite edge of a book; and the backing of a book is the formation of a pronounced projection or flare along the two longitudinal edge portions of the back edge of the book.

More specifically, this invention relates to that class of machines in which the books are first rounded and backed preliminary to the application of covers thereto.

Accordingly, the object of the present inven tion is to devise an improved form of machine structure of a comparatively simple nature which is adapted to round the books at a comparatively high rate of speed and in an eflicient manner preliminary to the binding of the same with covers; and it is the object also to provide a machine for backing the books in such a simple and efficient manner preliminary to the binding operation.

Another object consists in devising such a machine in which the books are fed therethrough in upright position with back edges down, preliminary to the transfer of the books to that portion of the machine in which the covers are applied thereto.

A ftu'ther object consists in devising such a machine structure through which the books are conveyed progressively during the operations above mentioned so as to thereby increase the quantity production of the machine.

A further object consists in devising a combined machine structure in which the books are first rounded and backed and then automatically 40 transferred to another part of the same combined machine structure for automatically applying the covers thereto.

Another object consists in devising a combined machine structure in which the mechanism for rounding and backing the books may be connected to the mechanism for binding the books so as to be operated therewith, or may be operated alone and independently thereof.

Fig. l is an elevation of the combined machine for rounding and backing the books and binding the same; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism for rounding and backing the books; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite side thereof; Fig. 4

H is a plan view of the same; Figs. 5 and 6 are views taken on lines 5-5 and 6--6 of Figs. 1, 2, and 4,

respectively; Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatic views illustrating the different steps during the progression of a book'through the machine for rounding and backing the same; Fig. 11 is a plan View illustrating the means for auto- 6Q matically conveying the books from the one part of the combined machine structure to the other part for the application of. the covers after the books have been rounded and backed; and Fig. 12 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 11.

There will first be described that part of the combined machine structure which is employed for rounding and backing the books and then the combined arrangement of this machine structure with that for automatically applying the covers to the books will be described. It is to be understood that the structure herein disclosed for the purpose of rounding and backing the books may be employed alone as a complete and independent machine structure from which the books after they have been rounded and backed, may be transferred manually to the casing-in machine for the application of covers thereto. Or, there may be constructed as a combined and single machine the two parts just referred to so that these operations may be performed progressively in the same machine structure and without re-handling of the books between the successive operations. This combined arrangement is indicated in Figs. 1, 11 and 12, while the details of the present im- 35 proved form of structure for rounding and backing the books is more fully disclosed in the other views of the present drawings.

For a more complete understanding of the easing-in machine with which the present improved mechanism for rounding and backing the books may be combined, reference is had to the disclosure in my prior Patent, No. 1,770,731 of July 15, 1930. The present mechanism for rounding and backing the books may possibly be combined as a part of other combined machine organiations and the means for automatically transferring the books from the one part of the combined machine structure to the other as herein indicated, may also be modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The mechanism for rounding and backing the books may also be modified, and all such modifications are intended to be comprehended by the present invention as herein described and claimed. 9

The machine structure herein illustrated may be operated from any suitable source of power, as for instance, an electric motor with belt connection to the drive pulley 1 and its shaft 2 upon the other end of which is provided the fly wheel 3. The casing or frame upon which and within which the several parts of the mechanism are mounted, including the drive connections therefor, is indicated by reference numeral 4. The frame of the casing-in machine is indicated by reference numeral 4*.

The pair of rotatable rollers 5 between which the book filler is placed during the initial part of the operation, are splined upon the rotatable shafts 6, which are in turn mounted in suitable bearings at their ends upon the individual carriages 7. These carriages are adapted to be moved back and forth toward and from each other so as to open and close the rollers for engagement with and disengagement from the book filler which is placed therebetween. As viewed in Fig. l of the drawings, these rollers are also adapted to be moved from left to right for the purpose of progressing the book which is held therebetween. As each book is placed by the attendant between the rollers 5, it is inserted in upright position with the back edge down and resting upon the support 8 while the rear end thereof will engage the angle member 9 to determine the proper location of the same. As a means of moving the rollers 5 longitudinally along their operating shaft 6, they are mounted within the brackets 10 which are engaged by the ends of the arms 11, the other ends of which have pivotal connection at 12 with the two parts of the arm 13 which is given a back and forth movement so as to reciprocate the brackets 10 and the rollers 5 carried thereby along the shaft 6. Brackets 10 are adapted to slide back and forth on the bars 10 on the carriages '7. The means for rocking the arm 13 back and forth comprises a crank member 14 operated by the gear 15 and provided with pin 16 engaging in the slot 17 in the lower part of the 'arm'13. The arm 13 is pivotally mounted at its lower end at the point 17 in the frame of the machine. The gear 15 is driven from the meshing gear 18 and the intermediate train of gears 19 and 20 upon the shaft 21, which in turn are driven by the gears 22 and 23 upon the shaft 24 which in turn are driven from the pinion 25 upon the shaft 2. In this way, power is supplied from the shaft 2 to cause back and forth movement of the rolls 5 along the rotating shafts 6.

The means for rotating the shafts 6 and the rollers 5 carried thereby, comprises the pinions 26 engaged by the rack members 2'7, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected at 28 to the upper transverse end 29 of the vertically reciprocating member 30. The member 30 has its lower end 31 arranged in the path of the cam member 32 carried by the gear 33. In this way, the racks 2'? are reciprocated up and down so as to rotate the rollers 5 in corresponding directions. The lower end of the rod 310 is provided with a weight 34 for the purpose of lowering the same by gravity upon completion of the upward movement of the rod 30 by means of the cam mechanism just referred to. As a means of varying the extent to which the rod 30 may descend, I have provided the adjustable screw 35 for abutting engagement with the lower end of the rod 30 which may rest thereupon at the end of its lowering movement. The gear 33 has operative drive connection from the main shaft 2 through.

the intermediate drive members indicated in the drawings. This drive connection includes the bevel gears 36 and 37 from which the shaft 38 is driven for operation of the gear 39 which is mounted thereupon and which meshes with the gear 33.

As above stated, the rollers 5 and their shafts 6 are mounted upon the carriages '7 for back and forth movement toward and from each other for the purpose of opening and closing the rollers so as to engage and disengage a book placed therebetween. These carriages 7 are moved back and forth along the tracks or guides 40 and this movement is produced by a lever mechanism arranged in substantially duplicate form along the two sides of the machine structure and operated from the same drive shaft as hereinbefore referred to. This lever mechanism comprises the levers 41 and ll which have their inner ends pivotally connected at 42 and 42 to the carriages upon which are mounted the rollers and their rotating shafts. The outer ends of the levers 41 and 41' are pivotally connected to the crank arms 43 and 43 mounted upon the shafts 44 and 44 arranged upon the sides of the machine frame. Upon the shafts 4d and 44, there are mounted also the crank arms 45 and 4.5 with their free ends pivotally connected to the arms 46 and 46 which are provided at their lower ends with the rollers 47 and 4'7 for operative engagement by the cams 48 and 48 upon the shafts 38 and 38. These two shafts are driven by the gears 39 and 39' arranged in meshing relation upon the opposite sides of gear 33. As before explained, the gear 39 is driven from the main source of power through the beveled gear connections 36 and 37. Thus, with the mechanism just now described, the carriages and the rollers 5 thereupon, are moved back and forth toward and from each other;

and such movements are properly timed with respect to the movements of the other parts hereinbefore and hereinafter described.

As a means of increasing or decreasing the space between the rollers 5 for engagement of books of different thicknesses, and for varying the degree of rounding action upon any book, I have provided the combination of racks 50 and pinions 51 for independently moving the carriage of one of the rollers 5 either toward or from the other roller so as to thereby either shorten or lengthen the throw of the lever mechanism associated therewith for the back and forth movement thereof. The pinions 51 is adapted for manipulation by the hand wheel 52 and this rack and pinion mechanism is provided upon each side of the carriage, as indicated in Fig. 4. Means for corresponding adjustment of other parts of the mechanism will be described below.

Thus, with the mechanism just described, the rollers will be moved automatically from each other so as to permit a book to be inserted therebetween upon the rest 8 and against the stop 9 when the rollers occupy proper position upon the shafts 6; and to then close upon and grip the sides of the book, whereupon the support 8 will be immediately and automatically lowered by a mechanism to be explained. As soon as the book is effectively gripped by the rollers 5, the shafts 6 will be rotated by the rack and pinion mechanism associated therewith, so as to rotate the rollers inwardly toward each other for rounding the book, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, and for simultaneously feeding the book downwardly. The degree of engagement of the rollers 5 with the book will determine the degree of rounding action. Simultaneously with such rotative movement of the rollers, they will also be automatically transferred longitudinally along their shafts 6by means of the rock arm 13 so as and 56.

to transfer the book toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and toward a point substantially midway of the machine structure. Thus, the rounding operation is performed during advancing movement of the book. At this point, the carriages upon which the rollers 5 and their shafts are mounted will be withdrawn from engagement with the book, but only after it has been engaged by another mechanism for holding the book in such position for the operation of another part of the mechanism which is designed to back the book, as in Fig. 10. This mechanism will now be explained. The book support 8 is automatically lowered and later raised bythe cam 8 on the shaft 66 of gear 33, so as to actuate the upwardly extending rod 8 which supports the book support 8.

Immediately upon the book being transferred to the middle part of the machine and lowered by the rollers 5, and before being released thereby, the book is effectively engaged upon the opposite sides thereof in a region immediately adjacent to the back edge thereof preparatory to the backing of the book. This means for gripping the sides of the book comprises the oppositely disposed gripping members 53 which are adapted for straightline back and forth movement within the frame of the machine and which have their outer edges pivotally connected at the points 54 with the one arm of a toggle mechanism comprising the plates The outer edges of the toggle plates 56 have pivotal connection at 5'7 with stationary parts of the machine frame. The toggle plates 55 and 56 are operated by means of the levers 58 which are connected at their upper ends to the toggle joints and which are provided at their lower ends with the rollers 59 for actuation by the cam members 60. The cam members 60 are mounted directly upon the shafts which carry the gears 39 and 39', the one cam 60 being mounted upon the shaft 38 which drives the gear 39, while the other cam is mounted upon shaft 38' of the gear 39'. As indicated in the drawings, these duplicate mechanisms for operating the toggles are located upon opposite sides of the machine structure and their operation is so timed that the gripping members 53 will effectively engage the sides of the book just prior to the release thereof by the rollers 5. The gripping members 53 have their under sides cut out in a concave form so as to accommodate the pair of backing members or jaws 61 which are pivotally mounted at their outer edges upon the vertically extending support 62 for reciprocating movement up and down within the region immediately belowthe book when in such position. The support 62 is provided with the rollers 63 which are adapted to engage the inner vertical surfaces of the stationary guard membersv 64which are mounted within the machine frame as a means of guiding. and steadying the movement of the'support 62; The support 62 is provided with an adjustable connection 62 and is provided at its lower end with the roller 64 adapted for actuation by the cam member having the two projections 65 for the purpose of producing a double actuation of the supporting member 62. and the backing jaw members 61. The double cam. member 65 is mounted upon the shaft 66 which extends from the axis of the gear 33 so as to be driven thereby. The backing jaws 61 have the inner portions of their upper sides concaved so as to supplement each other in en gaging about the rounded bottom edge of the book for the backing operation. When in idle position upon their support, the backing jaw members 61 are somewhat inclined downwardly toward each other; and upon actuation of the cam mechanism 65, they are raised so as to engage the back edge of thebook, whereupon the backing members assume amore inclined relation to each other as they are turned about their respective axes. That is, the engagement of the inner end portions of the backing members 61 with the back edge of the book will cause the same to turn about their points of pivotal support with the result that the concaved portions provided. upon the backing members will both pass in an outwardlydirectionover the back edge. of the book while the lower corners of: the gripping members 53 still firmly engage the book in the region immedlately adjacent tothe. back edge thereof. The. result is that the side edge portions above the back of the book are flared by the combined action of the member 61 and the corner edges of the gripping members 53 upon the back of the book, as in Fig. 10. As the inner edges of members 61 are lowered in the performance of this backing operation, they are caused to engage against the spring means 67 which is positioned-in the frame ata point immediately below the inner edges of the backing members so as to insure effective pressure engagement of these members with the back edge of the book and to ensure also the return of these members to upper idle position upon release of the same from engagement with the book.

When the hand wheel 52' is manipulated to space the rollers 5 for a. thicker book,v the guides 64 together with rollers 63. and the. backing members 61 and spring 67, are adjusted towards the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, by means of the screw threaded member 64 which is mounted in the frame and has threaded engagement with the yoke arm 64 which is connected with the guides 64 for lateral adjustment thereof within the frame. Such adjustment will never be of any greatextent and the'operating connections for vertical movement of the backing members will permit the adjustments above referred to, without requiring any adjustment or change in the operating connections just referred to. The same thing is true of the operating means for rotating' the rollers 5.. Also, one of the gripping members 54 (the. one on the right, as viewed in Fig. 6) can be adjusted towards the right by means of the screws 53 in the frame, this adjustment being provided in accordance with the other adjustments for books of greater thickness. This adjustment like the others referred to, will be only comparatively slight, and the pair of toggl'es 55-56. on the right, (Fig. 6), will be not fully straightened by their operating mechanism when their. gripping member is in such retracted position. I

Upon completion of the backing operation, it is automatically transferred by a mechanism to be now described to the initial end of the casing-in machine for applying a cover to the book. First of all, the backing members 61 are lowered and the gripping members 53 are withdrawn, whereupon the rear end of the book is immediately engaged by one of the pins-68carried by the endless chain or belt 69. This chain is driven by one. of the sprockets 70 and sprocket shaft '70 which has suitable operating connections with the drive mechanism, through gears 70 and shaft 70 The other sprocket is mounted upon a suitable sprocket '70 on the frame. The sprockets '70 are operated upon vertical axes and the pins 68 travel through a horizontal plane and are adapted to engage the book substantially midway of the height thereof and at a point just immediately above the top level of the gripping members 63 and just below the level of the rollers 5. Immediately upon the book being released by the gripping members 63, the pins 68 will be so timed in their operation that one of them will at once engage the book and cause it to advance forwardly and to be thereby carried by its pin 63 over a suitable form of support '71 which extends immediately below the horizontal path of the pins 68. The level of the support or track 71 may be slightly lower than that of the back edge of the book while it is being. rounded, so as to facilitate the transfer of the book onto the track 71. The support 71 is provided also with upwardly extending parallel guide members '72 between which the book will be advanced, and the support or track 71 terminates at the entrance to the first bookgripping jaws 73 of, the casing-in machine structure above referred to. Thus, such movement'of the book along the track 71 will finally deliver the same to proper position for engagement by the first book-gripping jaws 73 which are adapted to be advanced in the same horizontal direction for moving the book over the glue brush 74 for applying glue to the back edge of the book. The glue brush '74 also constitutes part of the casing-in machine above referred to and the mechanism for applying the covers '75 to the books is operated in proper timed relation to the mechanism for rounding and backing the books, and the operation of the transfer means 67-68'is also properly timed, so that the books may be fed automatically and continuously through the entire combined machine structure as herein set forth. Thus, the books will first be rounded and hacked and then the covers '75 will be appliedthereto, without any handling of the books by the attendant during such operations. As a result, there is obtained increased accuracy, speed and convenience in the accomplishment of the final result.

If so'desired, the two units of the combined machine structure may be disconnected from each other and operated independently. In such case, the books would be removed by hand from the first unit and inserted by hand into the second unit. The frames of these .two units may be bolted togetheror secured together in any other suitable manner so as to assemble the same in the relation herein set forth. When combined together, the two unitswill be operated from the same source of power by means of belts or other suitable connections; and when operated separately, they may have independent drive connections. In either case, the quality as well as quantity production have been improved and increased by the comparatively simple form 'of mechanism with increased eificiency and capacity for rounding and backing the books;-and'when the two units are combined, there is realized the additional advantage resulting from the elimination of the rehandling of the books between the successive operations of these two machine units.

It is to be understood that the present form of construction as herein disclosed-is merely for purposes of illustration and that there may be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of the present invention as herein set forth and claimed. For instance, the present combination of machine structure might be modified in such manner that it would perform only the rounding operation and then apply the covers, without backing the books. Or, the rounding operation might be omitted, the machine being modified so as to perform only the backing operation preparatory to the binding of the books. And, the binding of the books might be performed by a machine structure which is combined with or separate from the machine or machines for rounding and backing the books.

Although the particular casing-in machine illustrated and referred to in the present application is especially adapted for stiff covers, yet it is to be understood that the present invention may be employed in conjunction with a mechanism for applying flexible covers to the books, and the following claims are to be construed accordingly.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for longitudinally advancing a succession of books, and means for rounding the books during such advancing movement.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for longitudinally advancing a succession of books, and rotatable rollers for rounding the books during such advancing movement.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination or" means for feeding a book longitudinally on edge along a path in one direction, means for-rounding the book during such movement, means for moving the book also in a direction at an angle thereto so as to position the same for the backing operation, means for holding the book in such position, and means for backing the book while held in such position.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination. of means for feeding a book'laterally on edge and for simultaneously rounding and lowering the same, means for gripping the book and holding the same in such position, and means for backing the book while held in such position.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of reciprocating rollers for gripping and feeding a book laterally on edge, means for rotating the'rollers during such reciprocating movement so as to simultaneously round and lower the book, means for releasing the rollers from engagement with the book, means for gripping and holding the book on edge, and means for backing the book while held in such position.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of rollers, means for causing the rollers to grip the bookupon the two sides thereof while on edge, means for reciprocating the rollers so as to advance the book, means for rotating the rollers so as to round and lower the book, and means for gripping the book and backing the same while held in such position.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combinationof a pair of horizontally disposed rollers, means for moving said rollers laterally towards and from each other so as to grip a book upon the sides thereofand to hold the same on edge, means for simultaneously rotating said rollers "and moving the same lengthwise so as to simultaneously round and advance the position of the book, means for gripping and holding the book in such position, and means for backing the book while held in such position.

8. In a machine of the class described, thecombination of a pair of horizontally disposed rollers, means for moving said rollers laterally towards and from each other so as to grip a book upon the sides thereof and to .hold the same on edge,

means for simultaneously rotating said rollers and moving the same lengthwise so as to simultaneously round and advance the position of the book, means for gripping the book in such position and releasing said rollers therefrom, means for backing the book while held in such position, and means for releasing the book.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of horizontally disposed rollers, means for moving said rollers laterally towards and from each other so as to grip a book upon the sides thereof and to hold the same on edge, means for simultaneously rotating said rollers and moving the same lengthwise so as to simultaneously round and advance the position of the book, means for gripping the book upon the sides thereof in the immediate region of the corners of the back edge, means for backing the book while held in such position, and means for releasing the book.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of laterally engaging means for gripping a book upon the sides thereof in the immediate region of the longitudinal corners of the back edge, toggle means for actuating said gripping means, means for feeding one book at a time to such position, and means including a plurality of simultaneously actuated jaws for backing the book while held in such position.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for feeding and holding a book in position, a pair of oppositely disposed and simultaneously operating rocking jaws for backing the book, and means for effecting such engagement of the jaws with the book while held in such position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for temporarily supporting a book on edge as it is introduced into the machine, a pair of rotatable rollers, a means for moving the rollers into engagement with the sides of the book, means for withdrawing said supporting means, means for advancing the rollers longitudinally thereof while in such engagement so as to advance the book, means for rotating the rollers and thereby round and move the book therethrough so as to expose the regions of the sides in proximity to the back edge thereof, means for gripping the sides of the book in immediate proximity to the back edge thereof, means movable back and forth towards and from the book for backing the same while held in such position, and means for releasing and delivering the book.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for temporarily supporting a book on edge as it is introduced into the machine, a pair of rotatable rollers, means for moving the rollers into engagement with the sides of the book, means for withdrawing said supporting means, means for advancing the rollers longitudinally thereof while in such engagement so as to round and advance the book, means for rotating the rollers and thereby move the book therethrough so as to expose the regions of the sides in proximity to the back edge thereof, means for gripping the sides of the book in immediate proximity to the back edge thereof, reciprocating rockable jaws movable back and forth towards and from the book for backing the same while held in such position, and means for effecting such reciprocating and rocking movements of said laws.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of reciprocating rollers for gripping and feeding a book laterally, and means for simultaneously reciprocating and rotating said rollers so as to round and advance the book at the same time.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of rollers, means for causing the rollers to grip the book upon the two sides thereof while on edge, means for reciprocating the rollers so as to advance the book, and means for rotating the rollers so as to simultaneously round the book and advance the same both longitudinally with the rollers and laterally therethrough.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for feeding and holding a book in position, a pair of oppositely disposed and simultaneously operating, rocking jaws for backing the book, and means having straightline movement for effecting such engagement of the jaws with the book while held in such position.

1'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a book in position, a pair of oppositely disposed and simultaneously operating, reciprocating, rockable jaws for backing the book, and means for effecting such engagement of the jaws with the book while held in such position.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a book in position, a pair of oppositely disposed and simultaneously operating, reciprocating, rockable jaws for backing the book, each of said jaws having a 115 concave portion supplementing each other in the backing operation, and means for efiecting such engagement of the jaws with the book while held in such position.

19. In a machine of the class described, the 120 combination of means for feeding and holding a book in position, a pair of oppositely disposed and simultaneously operating, rocking jaws for backing the book, each of said jaws having a concave portion supplementing each other in the backing 125 operation, and means for effecting such engagement of the jaws with the book while held in such position.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for feeding a book on edge 130 simultaneously in two directions and for rounding the same during such feeding movement and at the same time positioning the same for the backing operation, means for holding the book in the position to which it is thereby fed, and 135 means for backing the book while held in such position.

ALFRED CAHEN. 

